Untypical pathway

Still maturing in her technical skills when compared with the pros, Shi's breakout win in Macao has given the combat sport's profile a huge boost. Her story of self-reliance and development resonates with a large group of fans in China.

Most of Shi's predecessors now in the professional ranks were drafted by MMA organizations from China's State-run sports system, where the early parts of their training focused on disciplines such as wrestling, boxing and sanda, or Chinese kickboxing.

The UFC's top Chinese star Zhang used to be a full-time sanda fighter and developed her skills in the Hebei provincial team. China's first men's MMA world titleholder Tang Kai, who fights under the Singapore-based ONE Championship, started out in the wrestling program in his native Hunan province.

"The Doctor", as Shi is called in the octagon fighting arena, has proved it's possible to take the leap from an amateur gym to the pro ranks, given the right guidance and opportunities.

"I needed the opportunity so much," said Shi, who became interested in MMA because of its versatility while studying TMC at college.

"As an ordinary person, I don't have advantages in size, range, or power in the strawweight division, and I have high-degree myopia," she said.

"Reflecting on my journey, I believe it was the long odds that I had to fight against every time that forced me to always practice harder. Beyond its brutal appearance, MMA is more about your mind and strategy."

Shi's training partners and coaches at the China Catch Wrestling club in Kunming have long expected her foray into the octagon, given her relentless training schedule of three times a week over six years.

"She seems just like the girl next door in your neighborhood — the same as anyone else," said Li Xuan, one of Shi's training partners. "But once she puts on her training outfit, she becomes different, a very tough fighter."

Bagher Amanolahi, Shi's Iranian coach, said of her MMA prospects: "This is just a beginning for us. We are aiming for the championship title. We have just started, and now we can really show our talent."